travel - Haiti Observer Blog

This is a sign that the time has changed. American Airlines is reducing his flights to Haiti. Effective November 3, 2018, the airline will reduce its daily flights from six to four. All flights will be departing from Miami International Airport and fly direct to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, including one to Cap-Haitien.

Airlines will no longer fly direct to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

American Airlines is reducing its number of daily flights from six to four departing Miami International Airport for Port-au-Prince and Haiti's second largest city, Cap-Haitien. With effect from November 3, 2018, there will be 3 daily direct flights from Miami to Port-au-Prince and 1 daily flight to Cap-Haïtien.

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Wishing To Visit Haiti should take special care while travelling the areas of Pétion-Ville and the storm-damaged southern peninsula departments of Grand Anse and Sud. This travel warning replaces department's earlier warning dated November 4, 2016. The warning also advises U.S citizens of evacuation insurance, not to share specific travel plans with strangers. American travelers should maintain constant touch with their hosts or prearranged organizations.

As per John Kelly, the Secretary of the U.S Department of Homeland Security, Americans traveling Haiti must remain cautious while visiting banks, ATMs, because the Haitian authorities' ability to respond to medical or security emergencies is very weak, limited and often in some areas, it is non-existent. The announcement ignores the fact that hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Haiti each year.

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Many people in the US will be on the road this weekend for the 4th of July Holiday. While many will travel by plane, causing huge delays at many airports in the US, many more will hit the road in order to reach their destination.

here is what you need to know before you startfilling up the cooler and load the car to start your trip. Leav work either Tursday or Friday no later than 3 PM. This will allow you to beat the rush that usually starts around 3 PM

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According to U.S. State Department, tensions remain high and they remain abreast of the security situation in Haiti during the election period. All "U.S. citizens in Haiti are advised to maintain adequate supplies of food, water, essential medicines, and other supplies that will allow them to shelter in place for at least 72 hours". They pointed to the fact of possible restrictions on traffic circulation, either imposed by the authorities or caused by political rallies that may occur.

The U.S. State Department announced that this revised Travel Alert should be in effect until February 15, 2017 the date the election process is expected to end.

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It appears that Government Commissioner Jean Danton Léger is issuing travel interdiction like you have never seen before. After Alix Celestin and businessman Marc Antoine Acra, former Finance Minister under Michel Martelly, Wilson Laleau, is the latest to be included in the list. According to some reliable sources, the decision was taken by Jean Danton Léger but not made public yet. The decision is expected to be communicated to the press this thursday, April 7, 2016.

What do you think?

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Stephanie Villedrouin, the 33-year old Haiti's dynamic Minister for Tourism and Creative Industries is determined to put Haiti on the global map of tourism. During her trip to the U.S in last July, she made a stop in Boston to spread the good news about the growing trend observed in Haitian tourism. In the last fiscal year (2013-14), there was an eleven percent rise in tourist visits to Haiti. Many Diasporas are interested to come back to Haiti and many other foreigners are becoming curious and found inquiring about Haiti.

Recently, on December 8th, 2015, an all inclusive resort "Royal Decameron Indigo" has been inaugurated in Cote Des Arcadians at a cost of $8 million by the Decameron Chain of hotels from Columbia. It is a 380-room property, renovated on the 55 hectares land of "Club Indigo" bordered by 1.5 kilometers of white sandy beach. In last March, the deal of acquisition was completed when Lucio Garcia, the CEO of the Decameron visited the site and met Minister Stephanie Balmir-Villedroin to finalize the terms of the takeover. As per their plan, the resort will procure its regular requirements through local Haitian entrepreneurs so that it can create 500 local jobs and further deploy 420 local people to work in the hotel. Decameron has presence in 11 countries across the world. As per their statement, they are passionate about quality and good service, understands the importance of paying attention to every detail so that they can provide the best market alternative in hotels and tourism. As per Minister Villedrouin, the development and quick execution of the takeover was possible because of the Haitian government's continued presence and support to the project; the government believes that "the success of tourism in Haiti is synonymous to the success of every Haitian".

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This will hurt the Haitian economy and also some who thought they were immune from the the current political problem. Royal Caribbean has decided to cancel another stop for one of its cruise ships in Labadee. Navigator of the Seas cruise ship will not be going to Haiti until local authorities are able to guarantee that there will not be any protests. This recent incident is likely to inflict long term consequences to the image of Haiti. Cruise ships tourism represents more than 60% of all visitors in Haiti.

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This can not be good for Haiti. Even worst, this will likely stay with he country for years to come. Royal Caribbean cruise line ship canceled its scheduled visit for Tuesday January 19, 2016 at Labadee after some Haitian protesters in small boats staged a protest. Royal Caribbean was obligated to find an alternative for its 3,634 passenger of its Freedom of the Seas that were headed to Haiti. Although the protest by the Haitians was peaceful; however this is not what the company wants to offer to their precious clients and visitors in Haiti.

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In the list of 10 worst airports of 2015 prepared by CNN, Haiti ranks sixth. Nigerian 'Port Harcourt International Airport' comes on the top of the list, followed by, (ii) King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), (iii) Tribhuvan International Airport (Kathmandu, Nepal), (iv) Tashkent International Airport (Uzbekistan), (v) Simon Bolivar International Airport (Caracas, Venezuela), (vi) Toussaint Louverture International Airport (Port au Prince, Haiti), (vii) Hamid Karzai International Airport (Kabul, Afghanistan), (viii) Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), (ix) Benazir Bhutto International Airport (Islamabad, Pakistan) and (x) Beauvais-Tille International Airport (Paris).

The excellence of an airport depends mainly on 4C's: comfort, conveniences, cleanliness and customer service. Some of the voters participated in the poll had suggested that the Nigerian airport could also win the title of most corrupt airport in the world. Saudi airport is well known for its long queues, chaotic, grimy ambiance, particularly within the Hajj terminal. Voters revealed their poor experience with the Nepalese airport. With its pothole runways and irregular flight schedules, it resembles nothing more than a bus station. Lack of upgrades and renovation has put Tashkent and Kabul airports at number four and seven. The voters have reported Venezuelan airport as uncomfortable, chaotic, dull and lacks passenger amenities. They consider Port au Prince Toussaint Louverture International Airport is uncomfortably hot, bathrooms are dirty, absence of chairs makes the floor space as the only resting option and don't expect any good quality of food here. The ranking of Vietnamese airport has come down recently because of its corrupted staff. The Pakistani airport has to work hard to improve its quality of facilities and service offered. The French airport has received grievances from voters because of absence of proper seating facilities, sufficient toilets, hygienic standards and kind staff.

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Habitation Jouissant in Cap-Haitian will be transformed to become Marriott International second Hotel in Haiti. Autograph Collection is the managing entity who will be responsible to run this new Marriott Hotel. Habitation Jouissant which will be opened in 2017 as the new Marriott will soon undergo an overhaul that will include 100 rooms. In addition, the new hotel will have a new presidential suites, two restaurants, two pools, a fitness center and meeting rooms.

Richard Kessler , once an independent hotelier and the present managing partner of Marriott, selects and builds Autograph Collection hotels considering themes based on local culture and arts, each with an individual identity with strong aroma of the local environment. Today, Autograph Collection has built over 100 hotels in world's most desirable destinations based on such themes and the management is very optimistic that "Habitation Jouissant" will add a unique culture rich perspective to their portfolio.

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